Earth sciences

Short-term responses to inorganic nutrient loading on the part of coral reef microphytobenthic communities are discussed. Manipulative microcosm experiments were used to determine the responses. Tropical microphytobenthic communities were found to respond in days. Addition of nitrogen in water above the sediment brought a significant increase in the biomass and enhancement in photosynthetic performance. Adding phosphorus did not get the same size response but brought a consistent enhancement in the photosynthetic rates of the microalgae.

Phytoplankton distribution and grazing near coral reefs

Article Abstract:

Effective removal of phytoplankton by the benthic community at a coral reef was found in a study conducted in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, from 1994-1996. The amount of phytoplankton and chlorophyll was reduced by 15-65% near the reefs compared to adjacent open waters. Pheopigments, the degradation products of chlorophyll, were more concentrated near the reef, where chlorophyll levels were lower. Strong depletion of phytoplankton was found by direct measurements of water passing through a 5-m-long perforated reef.

Picoplankton population dynamics in coastal waters of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

Article Abstract:

The article discusses the dynamics of plancton population to understand the factors that regulate cell growth and cell loss. Cell concentration, right-angle light scatter and red chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and the measurements of the picoplancton community by flow cytometry are presented.